Kauai County Council Meeting – April 9, 2025
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Kauai County Council Meeting – April 9, 2025
The Kauai County Council convened on April 9, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. in the Council Chambers. The meeting opened with a prayer and a certificate presentation honoring Swim Kauai Aquatics for their performance at the 2025 Hawaii State Championship Swim Meet. Four public hearings were held consecutively on Bills 2945–2948, all related to a 14.994-acre parcel in Eleele transferred to Kauai Habitat for Humanity for residential development. The regular agenda included an interview for the Board of Water Supply, approval of multiple grant applications, a claim, committee reports, and first and second readings of several ordinances. No public testimony was offered on the public hearings, but one member of the public testified on a grant item.
Consent Calendar
- C 2025-86: Councilmember Kaneshiro disclosed a potential conflict of interest and recused himself from matters related to Bill No. 2949 (the Mayor’s Proposed Operating Budget for FY 2025-2026) regarding an appropriation to Kaua‘i Soil Conservation, as he serves as a Director for the East Kaua‘i Soil & Water Conservation District. The disclosure was received without objection.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Bruce Hart (Kauai resident since 1973) testified on C 2025-87 (VOCA grant). He expressed appreciation for the Victim Witness Program but stated that the overall system is “deficient” in providing adequate support for victims of violent crime. He noted that while the program helps victims understand the process, it does not provide protection or restitution. Hart recounted his own experiences as a victim and called for stronger victims’ rights legislation, but emphasized he was not criticizing the Prosecutor’s Office or the program’s staff.
Discussion Items
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Interview: Clyde T. Kodani for Board of Water Supply (Term ending 12/31/2027): The Council interviewed Kodani, a retired civil engineer and former field representative for U.S. Senators Akaka and Schatz. Kodani stated his goal is to assist the Department of Water in planning for future infrastructure. Councilmembers praised his private-sector experience and community service. The nomination will be voted on at the next meeting.
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C 2025-87 – VOCA Grant ($203,743): The Prosecuting Attorney requested approval to apply for and expend federal funds for the Kaua‘i Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Expansion Project. Councilmember Cowden asked whether funding is consistent or declining. The Prosecuting Attorney confirmed that VOCA funding has been “going down” in recent years. Councilmember Kaneshiro clarified that the grant supports three full-time positions and covers salaries and benefits. The grant was approved unanimously.
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C 2025-88 – VAWA Grant ($50,216): The Prosecuting Attorney requested approval for the STOP Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Formula Grant to support a 0.65 FTE Deputy Prosecuting Attorney. Councilmember Cowden inquired about the number of attorneys handling domestic violence cases and the impact of the grant; the Prosecuting Attorney stated one full-time deputy handles misdemeanor domestic violence, while multiple attorneys handle felony cases. The grant was approved unanimously.
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C 2025-89 & C 2025-90 – Bosch Software License Renewal & Berla’s Terms: The Police Department requested renewal of software licenses for crash data analysis from Hyundai/Kia vehicles and approval of attorney fee terms for the iVe Toolkit. Councilmember Cowden asked about the scope of data collected (e.g., patterns of life, phone connections). Police representatives explained that the tools extract data from vehicle control modules to assist in collision investigations, including speed, brake application, and occupant information. Both items were approved unanimously.
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C 2025-91 – Proposed Draft Bill 2952 (Electric Vehicle Charger Fees): The Economic Development Director presented a bill to authorize user fees for county-owned public EV charging stations. The proposed rate is $0.50 per kWh or $3 per hour, designed to recoup costs for power, software, and maintenance. Councilmember Cowden expressed concern that the bill does not explicitly include infrastructure costs, which she described as “profound” given the state’s goal of 100% zero-emission vehicles by 2035. She argued this is an unfunded mandate. Chair Raposo noted that the bill also includes enforcement measures, such as towing vehicles that park without charging. The bill passed first reading unanimously and was scheduled for a public hearing on May 14, 2025, and referral to the Finance & Economic Development Committee.
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C 2025-92 – Proposed Draft Bill 2953 (SHOPO Temporary Hazard Pay): The Mayor transmitted a bill to amend the FY 2024-2025 operating budget to provide temporary hazard pay for Bargaining Unit 12 (SHOPO). No discussion. The bill passed first reading unanimously and was scheduled for a public hearing on May 14, 2025, and referral to the Finance & Economic Development Committee.
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Bill No. 2943 – Criminal Trespass onto County Lands (Second Reading): The Council approved the ordinance establishing a new Article 7, Chapter 20, relating to criminal trespass. The Committee of the Whole had recommended approval. Approved unanimously.
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Bill No. 2944, Draft 1 – Real Property Tax Classification (Long-Term Affordable Rental) (Second Reading): The Council approved the ordinance creating a new tax classification for long-term affordable rentals. The Finance & Economic Development Committee had recommended approval as amended. Approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Grant approvals: C 2025-87 (VOCA) and C 2025-88 (VAWA) were approved unanimously, allowing the County to apply for and expend federal funds.
- Software licenses: C 2025-89 and C 2025-90 were approved unanimously, renewing Bosch and Berla’s tools for crash data analysis.
- Public hearings on Bills 2945–2948: All four hearings were closed with no testimony. These bills amend the General Plan, State Land Use District Boundary, Zoning, and West Kauai Community Plan to allow residential development on 14.994 acres in Eleele for Habitat for Humanity.
- First reading of Bill 2952 (EV Charger Fees): Passed unanimously; public hearing set for May 14, 2025.
- First reading of Bill 2953 (SHOPO Hazard Pay): Passed unanimously; public hearing set for May 14, 2025.
- Second reading of Bill 2943 (Criminal Trespass): Passed unanimously.
- Second reading of Bill 2944 (Long-Term Affordable Rental Tax Classification): Passed unanimously.
- Board of Water Supply interview: Clyde Kodani’s nomination will be voted on at the next council meeting.
- Claim C 2025-93: The property damage claim by Desaray Saito-Brown was received without action.
Meeting Transcript
Morning, everyone, and welcome to the uh council meeting of April 9th. Before we get into the formal agenda, we as we do every first council meeting of the month, we have a one of our community leaders who come in and give us some words of wisdom. Today we have uh Liz Han, an old friend from um the Baha'i Faith. So thank you for being here today. Dear friends, you're receiving a friendship bracelet. And what that means is that you need a friend, you need a friend to put it on for you because it's hard to put on yourself. And I wear a few. One that has been almost a year, uh, that I got at a Baha'i Children's Glass that um where I learned how to make them. And uh so they're caught mostly cotton, so when you take a bath, you can just wash it and then try it with a towel, and it won't get pilau. Anyway, I want to share with you today um some prayers that are in English and in Hawaiian, and you can the council members have received them, their cards. The Baha'i Faith always promotes unity in diversity. And this is uh one of the prayers that's on there. It's Pomai Kai, or blessed is the spot, which means that basically wherever the mention of the creator is present, then that place in that event is blessed. Oh my god. A makeup honuahiolu ia kain noa okay a kuwaika nani. Blessed is the spot and the house and the place and the city and the heart and the mountain and the refuge and the cave and the valley and the land and the sea and the island and the meadow where mention of God has been ready and his praise Glory. Blessings to all of you and have a very productive and wonderful meeting in Mahalo for serving our county. Thank you, Billy. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Okay, and we do have um a certificate presentation this morning as well, so I'll turn it over to Councilmember uh Kanashiro. Okay, thank you. And on behalf of the entire county council, we just want to congratulate Swim Kwai Aquatics and its 18 swimmers for the club's outstanding performance. Eighth overall, sixth in women and ninth in men during the 2025 short course Hawaii State Championship Swim Meet held in Kona from February 27th to March 2nd, 2025. Founded in 2006 to encourage everyone to be the best you can be and guided by values that strengthen the character of its swimmers as well as its coaches, leadership, and extended swimming family. Swim Kwai Aquatics did really well in this past tournament. And again, you know, it's an honor to be recognizing the winners. I'll go through there's a lot of winners and a lot of races you guys competed in. So I'll um go over the 2025 Hawaii State champions and the races they've won, and then I'll also note um other notable performances by the uh swimmers themselves. So we have Griffin Lin, who's 10 years old. He dominated by winning all eight of his events and breaking his own Hawaiian record in the 100 breaststroke by nearly three seconds. Yeah, that's a lot. And um, when he comes up later, you may want to ask him what his rank is in the US for swimming. Just a question someone might want to ask. Um we have Max Motley. I think we know your parents. Your mom has been up here a lot. So Max Motley 12 secured victory in the 200 butterfly, also meddling with second place, 100 backstroke, third place, 100 butterfly, fourth place, 200 freestyle, fifth place, 50 freestyle, and 500 freestyle. We also have Adelaide Motley. We also same mom. 14 years old, triumphed in two out of eight events, winning the 100 and 200 backstroke, also meddling with second place 500 freestyle and 1650 freestyle, third place and 400 individual medley, fourth place 200 freestyle and seventh place 100 butterfly. And we have Shaley Moises, um, who's 14 years old, prevailed in the 1000 freestyle, also meddling with the second place 200 butterfly, third place, six 1650 freestyle, 500 freestyle, and 200 freestyle, fourth place in the 100 butterfly, and fifth place in the 400 individual medley. I'm tired just reading out um the races you guys had to do. Um other notable performances. I'll just um name them Addison Taitapu, Peyton Corte, Naya Lucy, Charlie Rapp, Ryder Lin, Sean Lautermoser, Eva Rose Rapp, Isabella Raynis, Tyler Cole, Hannah Hovlin, Liam Juvann, Brandon Lin, and Jaina Sam's. They also did really well in their performances and all um actually increased their times too in this recent performance. So the Kwai County Council commends and congratulates Swim Kwai Aquatics and their successful swimmers with special tank thanks to dedicated coaches Ricky Rascon, Kelsey Tanaka, Jane Roll, Jenna Budke, Chris Motley, and Kylie Mu. And um, with that, Council Chair Fiona call them up or yeah, if you guys could um how many of you are here today? Yeah, yeah.
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